The 2001 National Draft is widely regarded as the best draft of all time, and it’s one that reaped rich rewards for St Kilda.
The Saints acquired a future captain and Trevor Barker Award winner in Luke Ball (No. 2), as well as long-term midfield stars in multiple All-Australian's Nick Dal Santo (No. 13) and Leigh Montagna (No. 37).
The classy Xavier Clarke (No. 5) and the courageous Matt Maguire (No. 21) were both cut down by injuries, while Ball was also dogged by groin issues for large chunks of his time at the Saints.
In a draft class that acquired seven Brownlow Medals, the Saints unearthed some bonafide midfield stars in Ball, Dal Santo and Montagna, with the latter only calling time on his decorated career at the end of this season.
Dal Santo, who played 260 games in red, white and black before landing at North Melbourne at the end of 2013 as a free agent, made the fastest start of St Kilda’s class of 2001, playing 18 games in his debut season before entrenching himself in the side from 2004 onwards.
After being selected the pick after Hawthorn champion Sam Mitchell at No. 37, Montagna developed into one of the best value picks in St Kilda’s draft history, overcoming a slow start to play 20 or more games in ten of his final 12 seasons, including the 2009 and 2010 grand finals where he earned All-Australian selection in both seasons.
The year after being selected between Luke Hodge and Chris Judd with the second pick, Ball completed Year 12 at Xavier College before starting full-time at the club at the end of 2002.
By 2005, the hard-nosed onballer had won a best and fairest and earned an All-Australian guernsey, before captaining the club in 2006 and 2007.
After bleeding red, white and black, Ball left the club after the heartbreaking grand final loss in 2009 and won a premiership with Collingwood the year after, before retiring at the end of 2014.
St Kilda’s picks in the 2001 AFL Draft:
2. Luke Ball (Sandringham Dragons) – 223 games
5. Xavier Clarke (
13. Nick Dal Santo (Bendigo Pioneers) – 322 games
21. Matt Maguire (Geelong Falcons) – 170 games
37. Leigh Montagna (Northern Knights) – 287 games
49. Josh Houlihan (Murray Bushrangers) – 0 games
